Washing-machine



UNTTED sTATEs PATENT ormoni.

LOUIS C. RODIER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WASHING-MACHINE'.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 16,751, dated March 3, 1857.

To all tch-0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LOUIS C. Romeu, of the city of Detroit, in the Stateof Michigan, have invented a new and useful machine for washing,scouring, and cleaning clothes and cloth of every description or anyother substance yielding to the action of water; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section. Fig. 8a isan end elevation shown with a crank wheel.

lVithin a box which holds the water is an apron or jacket extending thelength of the box and suspended upon cross bars, or other device at eachend, by one, two, three, four or more hooks or notches in a metal barattached to a spiral spring catching to a peg passing through the crossbar and consequently adjustable, which suspends the said jacket or apronin a curved or basket form around a cylinder which is made to revolveand the periphery of which is armed with projecting sections of flanges,the spaces and ianges alternating and opposite each other.. Theaforesaid apron or basketformed jacket is constructed of slats or ribsof wood or metal with a slight space between each and through which ispassed at each end and center (or oftener if needed) an elastic steel orwire spring and upon which said slats or ribs are fastened and which isattached to the spiral spring before mentioned which thus suspend theapron around the cylinder the effect of this arrangement being that whenthe said cylinder is made to revolve the said spiral springs and thesprings through the apron suspendv ed 'from the former furnish yieldingpressure and the cloth or substance to be scoured or cleaned is pressedup to and against the flanges of the cylinder which catching the samepass it around the cylinder in its successive revolutions and by meansof the said anges and alternate spaces, subject it to the necessarypressure and friction as a substitute for manipulation and thoroughlycleanse the cloth or substance to be scoured* or cleaned, while thewater circulates freely through the open spaces in theribbed apron. Thetwo ends of the cylinder are protected by a smooth band or ferrulearound the cylinder and a Hat ring fastened against the box which keepthe clothes or4 substance to be cleaned from coming in contact with thejournal of the cylinder and being caught thereby and the said ring inwhich the cylinder revolves one half the depth of the ring, as in acircular groove, operates as a guiding plate to preserve the proper`space at all times between the apron and the revolving cylinder andalso tokeep the box water tight. The said cylinder may be made torevolve and in either direction by a wheel and crank or by a wheel andlever or any other motive power appliedl at either end by a pulley andband or cog wheel geared to the said driving wheel. To the opposite endor at the same end of the axis of said cylinder is attache-d a fly orbalance wheel to assist the motion of the cylinder and at eachend of thecylinder the produced axis or journal passes through a packing boxforming the bearings of the journals and prevents the water fromleaking. The machine may be constructed of any size either of wood ormetal and the cylinder driving cog and balance Wheel adjusted to anysize and required velocity. I have found four revolutions of a cylindersix to eight inches in diameter, to one revolution of the driving wheelto work well in practice in the hand machine.

In the accompanying drawings l and 2 and 8a are representations of theprincipal operating parts of said machine when combined, for washing orcleaning clothes, &e.

A, A, is the standard or frame upon which rests the box; B, B, B, arethe bottom and sides of the box; O, O, are the cross bars which supportthe springs; D, D, are the metal bars with hooks or notches; E, E, onFig. 2, are the pins on which catch the hooks; F, F, are the spiralsprings; G is the apron or jacket around the cylinder; H, H, H, are thesteel or wire springs on which are fastened the ribs to form the apron;I is the cylinder showing t-he flanges and spaces; J, the flangesopposite the space; R, is the axis of the cylinder; L, L, are the ringsor circular grooves in which revolve the ends of the cylinder; M, onFigs 2 and 3a is a plug or water escape; N, is t-he cover of the waterbox; O, is the crank; P, is the driving wheel; Q, is the pinion or cog fWheel, geared with the driving Wheel; R, R, I ing a revolving cylinderarmed With ordiare the packing boXes; S, S, are the bands or ferrules atthe end of the cylinder; T, is the balance or fly.

Having thus fully described the parts and combination of parts andoperation of the machine for Washing, scouring and cleaning cloths,clothes and other substances. and shown various modes in Which the sannemay be operated, I do not claim a. Washing machine having a flexibleapron or jacket suspended upon springs and partly inclosnary flutes; but

IVhat I do claim is- The revolving cylinder K, composed alternately offlanges J and spaces opposite said flanges, in combination With thejacket G, arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for thepurpose set forth.

LOUIS C. RODIER.

Signed in the presence of- D. GOODWIN, Jr., S. A. GOODWIN.

